Freshmen win in OT

Denny Anderton has been a fixture among the coaching staff for the past 33 years. His football coaching career came to an end Thursday, Oct. 25 with a unique twist as his freshman football squad defeated his alma mater, Christopher, in overtime 36-28.

Denny Anderton has been a fixture among the coaching staff for the past 33 years. His football coaching career came to an end Thursday, Oct. 25 with a unique twist as his freshman football squad defeated his alma mater, Christopher, in overtime 36-28.

"I'm really proud of these kids," said Anderton. "They ended the season 5-3 and won four in a row. In fact, they have won five out of the last six games. This group of kids are also the last group I taught at Crossville as fourth graders, so it makes it kind of special to end my career with them as freshman."

Anderton retired from teaching fourth grade in 2008. However, he continued to maintain his coaching duties in both football and basketball. He will complete his final game as the seventh grade basketball coach later this year.

Anderton first came on the coaching scene in 1981, hired by Athletic Director Harold Poore and then Head Football Coach Larry Kane. The graduate of Christopher High School was coaching at Murphysboro at the time when he heard about the opening at Carmi.

"I played a lot of fast-pitch softball back then and I was at a game in Carbondale when one of the guys told me about the opening," recalled Anderton. "So, I went down and interviewed and they (Poore and Kane) told me they wanted to hire someone quick because football season was coming up. I was headed to Bloomington for a softball tournament, so I gave him (Poore) a number to reach me up there and he called and I got the job while I was in Bloomington."

It was a quick turnaround for Anderton. The whole process took two weeks and Randy Goin, then head basketball coach, helped Anderton find a place to live and he immediately began as assistant varsity football and assistant basketball coach and junior varsity coach for the Bulldogs. He would later step into the role as head football coach for seven years before moving into the freshman football and junior high basketball ranks, a post he's held for the past 21 years.

"Carmi is home to me," said Anderton. "I've been here longer than I've been anywhere else, even Christopher. It was a hard decision to make to give up coaching and I'll miss it, but someday you have to do it."

Anderton laughed that he is old enough to be a grandfather to kids he's coaching now, but through all the years, he has earned their respect and discipline because they know he won't put up with them if they don't. His expertise as a coach has also assisted the programs above him and he's been a valuable key to the success of the varsity programs with a good foundation put into place at the younger levels.

Anderton completes 17 years assisting Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Kurt Simon. Prior to that, he assisted Lou Wicks for 10 years. In all, he's been coaching 38 years.

Page 2 of 2 - "Carmi has been a good place for me," said Anderton. "I've enjoyed it and I've always loved coaching these kids."

Anderton said his final football win was a little unique in that it was from his hometown of Christopher. After the game, the freshman football coach from Christopher came over to him and took his hat off and said he understood he was from Christopher originally and wanted Anderton to have his hat, which held the letters CZR Football on it. Anderton told him he couldn't take his hat, but the coach insisted he was going to mail him one. Anderton said he appreciated the gesture.

But Anderton won't be reminiscing about football too long. His seventh grade boys basketball team starts action Monday at 4 p.m. in the Seventh and Eighth Grade Harrisburg Tournament.

"I've been double dipping for the past three weeks," said Anderton. "We have football practice from 3:30 until 5:15 and then I go straight to basketball practice. I've had to stop and think about what I'm doing."

The seventh grade game Monday will be followed by Marcus Lynn's eighth grade squad against Eldorado. The teams will return to Harrisburg Thursday, Oct. 31 for the 7th grade game at 6:30 p.m. followed by the eighth grade game. They will wrap up play in the tournament Friday, Nov. 1 with games against Hamilton County beginning at 6:30 p.m.